2nd Shopper Accuses Barneys of Racism; Trayon Christian Update

*Less than 24 hours after the news that Barneys and the New York Police Department are being sued for discrimination by 19-year-old college student Trayon Christian, a second African American shopper has come forward with the same allegations.

Kayla Phillips, a 21-year-old nursing student from Brooklyn, told the New York Daily News that she was stopped by police after purchasing a $2,500 Céline bag at the store on February 28. After buying the item with the money from a tax return, the woman left the Madison Avenue store. Three blocks away, she says she was surrounded by four undercover police officers — two white, one African American and one Asian — at a nearby subway station.

“There were three men and a woman. Two of them attacked me and pushed me against a wall, and the other two appeared in front of me, blocking the turnstile,” Phillips told the Daily News.

Phillips says the white officers, a male and female, questioned her for 20 minutes, inquiring where she lives, why she was in Manhattan and how she was able to purchase such an expensive bag. The mother of one, who is now expecting her second child, told them she was in the borough to shop, showed them her receipt and the card she used. Phillips’ debit card was a temporary replacement card, but after showing them her ID and the new, re-issued card she had received that morning in the mail and was carrying in her purse, the officers let her go.

Nevertheless, Phillips has filed a $5 million notice of claim with the city informing them of her intention to sue the NYPD. An additional civil rights lawsuit against the NYPD and Barneys is also pending according to Kareem Vessup, Phillips’ attorney.

While Barneys has tried to distance itself from the accusations with a statement claiming no involvement, these instances have ignited criticism around Jay Z’s partnership with the retail store.

The rapper is launching a collaboration called “A New York Holiday” on November 20 where he has curated a selection of limited-edition products by top fashion designers that range in price from $70 to $33,900. Twenty-five percent of the proceeds will go to the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation to help fund education opportunities for students who can’t afford them.

“It’s not fair . . . the two individuals who have had these experiences listen to Jay Z and Beyoncé, who wear designer clothes,” Wendy Elie, the mother of Kayla Phillips, told Daily News. “These kids also like nice things, and they were treated awfully.”

Trayon Christian

As previously reported, Christian, a college student from Queens, was arrested at the luxury department store in April after buying a $350 Salvatore Ferragamo belt. Following the purchase, he was stopped by undercover officers that were allegedly called on by a Barneys sales clerk who believed the transaction was fraudulent.

“His only crime was being a young black man,” Michael Palillo, Christian’s attorney, told The New York Post.

Barneys has posted the below statement on their Facebook page, providing clarification about employee participation in the Trayon Christian incident.

“Barneys New York typically does not comment on pending litigation. In this instance, we feel compelled to note that after carefully reviewing the incident of last April, it is clear that no employee of Barneys New York was involved in the pursuit of any action with the individual other than the sale. Barneys New York has zero tolerance for any form of discrimination and we stand by our long history in support of all human rights.”

Christian’s lawsuit, which was filed Tuesday in Manhattan Supreme Court, states that the NYC College of Technology freshman was asked by the cops: “how a young black man such as himself could afford to purchase such an expensive belt?” He was then handcuffed and taken to a local precinct.

Despite showing the officers the receipt for the belt, his ID and the debit card used, “Christian was told that his identification was false and that he could not afford to make such an expensive purchase,” Palillo said.

Christian, who saved up money for the pricey accessory from his part-time job at college, said he returned the belt and never plans to shop at the Madison Avenue store again. His story comes just days after another instance of racial discrimination was reported in Baltimore when a black woman was allegedly fired from Hooters for having blonde highlights.

Christian’s lawsuit against the store and the NYPD is for unspecified damages.

A single mother is stopped by a black cop scream racism? And who uses a tax return to buy an expensive handbag? Has the definition for racism changed? Can someone please call me and bring me current on these new changes that’s happening in this world.

I’ve never shopped at Barney’s before but they are super expensive from what I’ve been reading. I know I would never shop there if I could afford to becuz of the way they treat black ppl!!!! Not all black ppl are poor or steal. I too, would sue the he// out of them!!!!! Such a shame these young and innocent ppl had to experience racism. Ppl can buy what eva they want, but my curiosity wants to know how a young nursing student with a young child and one on the way can afford a $2,500 purse? Anyway, hope u sue them for enuff to take care of u and ur kids!!!!

Hey, that purse might be a gift to herself for a job well done as in getting her life together and going back to school. Perhaps it was a once in a lifetime splurge. Have you not ever purchased something nice for yourself just because you had the extra money? Maybe her child’s father is good to her and told her to go ahead and use that money to treat herself.

What ever the reason the purchase appears to have been legitimate and there was no need for her to be questioned in that fashion. I was stopped and questioned after landing on a return flight from Japan for no other reason than TWB – traveling while Black. This stuff happens all the time.

First of all, if you get financial help that means your income is well below standards. So if you have that type of money to spend on a purse. You don’t need financial help. How about spending that money on your kids. I bet my life that she is getting some government assisatnce for her kids. That guy buying a $300 dollar belt who is so into looking good should be embarrassed walking into a store dressed so good and pulling out his albino alligator skin wallet and take out link card to pay for his groceries.

@Reds NOT AT ALL what I meant!!!!! My statement meant I wish I could afford such an expensive purse. It’s like asking a person that works at a prestigious company, “how did u get that job”? Because I want to be able to do that. My statement was actually a compliment!

D’Nice, I kinda agree with you…and I know this is about discrimination but once made public, she does open herself to a bit of scrutiny. I would like to know how she could afford that purse, pay for college, save for the baby on the way, and live in one of the most expensive cities in America. I know folks who make six figures with no children living in far less expensive cities who still can not afford to just plop down $2500 on a purse. That’s rent or a mortgage to most!

I’m sorry if I seem a bit inpatient with you but you act as if you didn’t read the article. If this is the conclusion that you have drawn from reading the article then it doesn’t matter what anyone saids, your not equipped to understand it. There’s a leak in your brain.

What is wrong with people? Why would he associate with a “thug culture”. Why didn’t he buy “books” for classes instead. Why is a kid who’s on “school assistance” spending $300.00 on a belt.
Why? Because he’s working! That’s why! The racist venom & demonizing of this kid has astounded me since I saw this story. Here is a guy who is an engineering student at a top technical school. He had a job working at that school, & has since moved on to working at Target. He is doing everything people are taught to do. Work, go to school, live right, be honest. And he winds up in the police precient!
Why? Because of continued racisim, class’ism, profiling, style of dress’ism, brown skin’ism, youth’ism, and just basic ignorance’ism.
To all the knuckleheads who continue this argument of the way he dresses, his identification with hip hop culture, that he might get some kind of pubic assistance, that it’s “his fault” that he got in this predicament. His going to school, his being employed, his persuit of an apparent engineering degree doesn’t matter?
Because he wears an oversized baseball cap? Or Timberlands? Or wears jeans that hang low, showing off a fancy belt? This means he’s up to no good? And all other facts go out the window?
Have you seen all these white kids out here dressing the same way, immitating the rap culture that white people so readily dennigrate? Yet they’re allowed to “carry on, just stay out of trouble.”. And what about the white “Wall Street Thugs” who got away with bringing the country financial ruin. Nobody has been arrested for that. Not a one! Yet, everybody’s afraid of that young, brown skinned kid with the baggy blue jeans. Student & hard worker just can’t be his reality. He’s commiting crime and looking for trouble.
Young brother, you continue to do your thing. You work hard, & go to school, & persue your dreams. You spend your hard earned money anywhere you want, and if they don’t want your money, then take your business elsewhere. There are decent people and businesses that will appreciate your positive contribution to society. And if anybody dares to profile you, and cause you harm in doing it, you haul their ass into court and stand for your rights as an American Citizen! Because though some clowns may beg to differ, you have a right, to treat yourself to a few things! Particularly when you’re living your life the right way.

This is so sad and disturbing. These young should be able buy what they want without being harrassed. They really should sue Barneys and the NYPD for these awful incidents. Also, Black People need to stop being so materialistic. Stop buying all these expensive and useless items where as in two years, you won’t even care for them.

Good for Kayla being able to purchase her own Celine handbag, I love handbags too even the expensive ones and whenever I feel the urge I go purse shopping. I would take the handbag back though and not give whomever reported her the commission and purchase the handbag somewhere else.

Black people and people in general need to stop concerning themselves with how others choose to spend THEIR money. It is not any ones business, if the expensive items becomes useless in time trust me when I say the world won’t end because of it.

@ William Tercyck no middle class students qualify for “Pell Grants”, Scholarships, Aid, Loan & Grants also, lets not forget there are also academic, corporate, private & industry grants also, so many of you are making the same assumption of these people economic status as Barney’s & the NYPD. Not all African-American come from poverty or live on the fringes of society some of us are solidly “middle class” & above & there are Blacks who shop @ Barney’s & other similar retailers routinely

Wow man! You just know about all us black people, huh? Kayla Phillips must get assistance for her kids and Trayon Christian must pay for his groceries with a “Link” card. I mean what are black people doing shopping for handbags and belts and food and clothes. Why, that’s for white people and oreo crackers only! I mean we couldn’t possibly have jobs, mortgages, car notes, middle class lifestyles. Nope. We all out here scamm’in, and jiv’in and liv’in on the down low just suck’in up whatever we can jack off you white people!

So I guess my $56,000 dollar a year job is just a farce. I guess my mortgage for my three bedroom home in the wooded suburbs must be an illusion. Well shoot! Who da hell I been giv’in my hard earned money to all these years! I guess that bank must just be a front. And two cars! Bought and paid for! My goodness. They look so good, people white and black wanna buy my whips off me! They see all the hard earned money I put into them to keep them running and looking good. And my taxes I pay to help maintain the infrastructure of this country we live in. I mean, gee whiz William, this must be a dream because according to you, I’m not responsible enough to live this kind of life. So gee, what have I really been doing all these years!

Tell you Willie boy. Me, and millions of other African Americans and other ethnic groups in reality are doing everything I mentioned above and more.

African Americans have contributed great things to this country and we will continue to contribute great things to this country, in spite of small minded,
elietest, uppity, idiots such as yourself who can’t see human beings past race, class, religion or income status.

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